AceShowbiz -

Marking early announcement on the possible contenders for 2008 Oscar, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) revealed Thursday, November 8, 2007 that twelve pictures have been put in consideration to compete for Academy Awards' Best Animated Feature title. Three will then be selected as the final contenders by the time all categories get unveiled on January 22, 2008.

The list includes such crowd-pleaser titles such as Disney/Pixar's "Ratatouille", Sony Pictures Animation's "Surf's Up", and 20th Century Fox's "The Simpsons Movie" as well as DreamWorks Animation's "Shrek the Third" and "Bee Movie." The rest seven are "Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters", "Meet the Robinsons", "Tekkonkinkreet", "TMNT", "Alvin and the Chipmunks", "Beowulf", and "Persepolis."

Among the contenders, the last three titles are the only pictures that are yet to have their qualifying Los Angeles run. Regarding "Beowulf", doubts have been raised on whether the motion-capture epic could be categorized as an animated film, but the Academy is learned to have reserved the right to revoke eligibility if a movie is later deemed not to meet all criteria.